Yes of course it is figurative, the beast is interpreted in the prophecy.
In fact all Revelation is figurative or signified. See
Revelation 1:1
Not all, just much.......some things are truthful but John had no words for what he saw, whereas the Seven Headed Beast was FIGURATIVE, there is a difference. One can not be an actual thing, whereas the other might be an actual thing that can nor be described properly as per when John lived. If that makes sense. Say John sees a Nuclear bomb or a Helicopter, and maybe he describes the later as a Grasshopper, that helicopter is still real, its just been described poorly. Whereas the Seven Headed Beast is not a REAL THING and never was. Does that make sense?
That post does not make sense.
Try reading Revelation as if its 5 different books.
1.) Rev. chapters 1-3 is the Seven Churches of Asia Minor.
2.) Rev. 4, 5, 7, and 19 is the Church in Heaven at different points in time after the Rapture.
3.) Rev. 6, 8, 9, and 16 is the Seals/Trumpets/Vials in Chronological Order. (21 Judgments)
4.) Rev.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18 are Visions given to John about things that happen in the last Seven Years but these Visions are all over the place as per their timing, much of these visions overlap. The story of the END TIMES is basically told in chapters 6, 8, 9 and 16, that is the 3.5 years of Gods Wrath. Most every chapter mentioned in
BOLD ABOVE is things that happen in chapters 6, 8, 9 and 16. Not much of Revelation, if any, is about the first 3.5 years of Peace.
Some of Rev. chapters 4 and 5 is pre the 3.5 years of Wrath, but its showing the Raptured Church in Heaven, thus when Jesus opens the Seals, the 3.5 years of Gods Wrath on Mankind begins.
5.) Rev. 20, 21 and 22 is the 1000 year reign of Christ and the New Jerusalem or ever-after.
Everything that happens in
4.) or in those Visions is just God giving us more details on the chapters about the 3.5 years of Gods Wrath, which are chapters 6, 8, 9 and 16.
Rev. 11 and 15 I used to add with 6, 8, 9 and 16, I have come to realize they are SEPARATE VISIONS ALSO !! The Actual 21 Judgments are in those four books. The Visions are describing EVENTS in those four chapters.
For Example:
- Rev. 12 is the Woman Fleeing, well that would happen at day 1260, or the Middle of the week (Rev. ch. 6), and God will protect her for the full 1260 days until Jesus Returns. The Remnant being martyred in Rev. 12:17 are the Martyrs under the Alter in the 5th Seal.
- Rev. 13 is the Anti-Christ going forth to Conquer, or the Beast arising out of the Sea. That also happens in the Middle of the week, thus it starts out in Rev. chapter 6 also, when he Conquers Jerusalem he becomes the Beast for 42 months.
- Rev. 14 seems to be both the Rapture and the End Time Harvest. Jesus is sitting on a Cloud in verse 14 and thrusts in a cycle to harvest, then in verses 19 and 20 he thrusts in another cycle and places those in the Wine-press of Gods Wrath. (I think the 144,000 is All Israel in the Wilderness, he will bring them with him.)
- Rev. 17 is the Harlot being Judged or ALL FALSE RELIGION being Judged. This elaborate plan starts in Rev. ch. 6 also. The Beast chases Israel for 1260 days, he kills the Remnant Church, he will destroy Islam and all religions at this point in time when he goes forth to Conquer !!
- Rev. 18 is Babylon (World Governance under Satan) or the World getting pelted by the 21 Judgments of God. So thus it must needs also start in Rev. ch. 6 at the Midway point. The First Seal is Jesus bringing forth Judgment. It is all four chapters, 6, 8, 9 and 16. Then IT IS DONE.
- Rev. 11 is likewise the VISION of the Two-witnesses, they come forth before the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord (Middle of the week/First Seal) so says Malachi 4:5-6. Thus they die just before the Beast dies(2nd Woe vs. 7th Vial). I think this is the 1335 in Daniel ch. 12.
- Rev. 15 is a Vision of the Angels readying the Seven Vials in Heaven. Not much more to be honest. But this would be happening right before the 3rd Woe (7th Trumpet) is sounded.
- Rev. 10 is a Vision that is speaking about the SECRET THINGS of the Seven Thunders about to be brought to a close when the Seventh Trumpet is Sounded. John is told not to reveal these things, to swallow this book and keep it secret.
So, as you can see, the book of Revelation is/was Confused by God, IMHO, on purpose so only us Saints can understand it, if we try hard and pray for UNDERSTANDING.
Please do not think Revelation is on Chronological order, it is not. Only 6, 8, 9 and 16 are in order.
